Toll apparatus for telephone-exchanges.



S. J. LARNED. TOLL APPARATUS FOR TELEPHONE EXGHANGES. urmouxon FILEDJULY 7, 1902. Bmmwsn APR. 3, 1905.

Patented June 29, 1909.

. JZUVZZOz alervyaoaz e42 1n: NORRIS Pzrnzs 170-, WASHINGTON, D c.

UNITED STAT CS PATENT OFFICE.

SHERWOOD J. LARNED, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR 'lO ESTERN ELECTRICCOM- PANY, OF CHICAGO, lLL1i\'OlS,A CORPORATION Ol ILLINOIS.

TOLL APPARATUS FOR TELEPHONE-EXCHANGES.

Application filed July 7, 1902, Serial No. 114,570. Renewed April 3,1905.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SHERWOOD J. LARNED, citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illi- .nois,have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Toll Apparatus forTelephone-Exchanges, of which the following is a full, clear, concise,and exact description.

My invention relates to telephone toll apparatus, and is applicable moreparticular y to systems wherein the mechanism of a toll device at thesubstation is controlled by a switch at the central oflice, actuated inthe course of a connection between the line in question and anotherline.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved organization ofcircuits and apparatus by which a toll device may be operatedautomatically in taking down the temporary connection at the centraloflice switchboard.

In a patent to Albert M. Bullard, No. 665,874, dated January 15th, 1901,there is described a toll line system in which a toll box is provided atthe substation for receiving coins, the deposit of a coin beingnecessaryin order to signal the central ofiice. In that system the finaldisposition of the coin in the toll box is dependent upon the actuationby the operator of certain manual keys-that is to say, one key whendepressed causes the coin at the substation to be thrown into the cashbox, while the depression of the other key causes said coin to be released from the toll box and thrown into a re turn cup.

By means of my invention I am enabled to dispense with one or both ofthe manual keys at the central ofllce, and to cause the automaticactuation of the toll device as in cident to the mere opening of theoperators connection-switchthat is, the disconnecting of the operatorsmovable conductor or plug circuit. In a very large percentage of thecalls, the connection desired by the subscriber calling is obtained,making it necessary for the coin in the toll box to be thrown into thecash box. Heretofore it has been necessary for the operator in each caseto press a special button to deposit the coin, but

y means of my invention the deposit of the coin is brought aboutautomatically by the mere opening of the connection switch-that is, bythe withdrawal of the plug from the sp ringj ack.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 29, 1909.

Serial No. 253,626.

If desired, both of the alternative actions of the substation tolldevice may be brought about by the actuation of a single switch, whichmay be the automatic switch above referred to, at the central olliee, aswitch be ing provided at the substation to be operated by thesubscriber, which will cooperate with the central oilice switch in thecontrol of the toll device, the efiect produced upon the toll mechanismby the actuation ol the central oflice switch being determined by thecondition of the substation switch. A signal may be provided at thecentral ollice to inform the operator of the condition of saidsubstation switch, so that the operator may know what action will resultfrom an operation of her switch. F or example, the substation tolldevice may have a polarized magnet with mechanism controlled therebyadapted to make alternative dispositions of a deposited coin accordingto the direction of the exciting current, the application ol suchcurrent being controlled by a central ofllce switch, which may beactuated auto matically in withdrawing the plug from. the springjack olthe line in question. A reversing switch arranged to be operated by thelever of the usual gravity telephone switch may control the connectionof the polarized magnet with the line, so that when the central ol'liceswitch is opened the polarity imparted to said magnet, and consequentlythe operation of the toll device, will depend upon the condition of thesaid reversing switch. The ordinary supervisory signal in the plugcircuit will inform the operator of the condition of the substationtelephone switch. To return the coin, the operator would ask thesubscriber to keep his telephone oll the hook, and would then pull outthe plug, whereby the toll device would be automatically actuated tothrow the coin into a return channel. But ordinarily the operator wouldwait to pull out the plug until the subscriber had replaced histelephone on its hook, as at the end ol" a conversation, so that thedeposit of the coin would be automatically eflected upon the taking downof the connection.

I will describe my invention more particularly by reference to theaccompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating atelephone line extending from a substation to a central oflice, with aportion of the central 1 office switching apparatus, the system beingorganized and equipped for the automatic actuation of the substationtoll device in accordance with my invention; and Fig. 2 is a diagramshowing a substation apparatus wherein the connection of the polarizedmagnet of the toll device with the line is controlled by contactsoperated by the telephone switch.

The same parts are designated by the same reference characters whereverthey are shown.

The telephone line extends in two limbs 1 2 from the substation A to theline springs a a respectively of the terminal springj acka. The thirdcontact or test ring 0, of the springjack is connected to earth as usualby a conductor 3 which includes the winding of a cut-oil relay 0, saidcut-ofl relay being excited when connection is made with the line, bycurrent applied to the test ring through a conductor 9 leading from thefree pole of a battery I) to the third contact of the operators switchplug. The limb 1 of the telephone line is extended through the normalcontacts of relays c and e to the free pole of grounded battery 5.

The usual telephone apparatus is provided at the substation, togetherwith a toll box, which may be of the type shown in the patent toBullard, No. 665,874, aforesair. The toll box is provided with acoin-chute for receiving coins, and electromagnetic distributingmechanism for controlling the disposition of deposited coins. Thecoin-distributing magnet g is polarized and adjusted to respond only tocurrent of a given electroinotive force for example, 110 volt current.Contacts f f 2 are arranged to be closed together by a coin held withinthe coin-chutef, said contacts controlling a ground branch 4 from theline conductor 1, said branch in cluding the winding of the polarizedmagnet A valve 9 is controlled by the armature g of the polarizedmagnet. Normally the valve stands in a position to arrest a coin withinthe chute, in which position the contacts I 2 are closed together by thecoin. When 110 volt current is applied at the 'cen tral o'tlice to theline conduct-or 1, the armature-g of the magnet g is tilted to one sideor the other, according to the direction of such current, so moving thevalve to one side or the other and throwing the coin either into thecash box or into the return chute. For example, positive current appliedto the line conductor 1 will cause the coin to be thrown into the cashbox, while negative'current applied to said conductor will cause thecoin to e thrown into the return chute.

Thecentral o'l'fice operator is provided with the usual plug circuit formaking temporary connection with the line at the springjack.

This plug circuit is well known and needs no particular description. Akey 76 is provided in association therewith, said key being adapted whendepressed to connect the tip of the answering plug Z with a groundedsource G of negative 100 volt current, so that when said key isdepressed, the magnet of the toll device at the substation of the linewith which the plug is connected, is excited by the negative currentflowing out over the line conductor 1 to earth through the branch 4,whereby the armature of said magnet is tilted in a direction to throwthe previously deposited coin into the return chute. It is intended thatthe key it shall be actuated by the operator to return the coin onlywhen the desired connection cannot be obtained, as when the line calledfor is busy. Ordinarily, however, the connection desired will be made,and in this case the operator is relieved from the necessity of pressinga key to deposit the coin, as has been required heretofore. l provide anautomatic switching mechanism for momentarily applying positive 110 voltcurrent from the generator G to the limb 1 of the line, the applicationof the current preferably being controlled by the withdrawal of theanswering plug Z. I

The cut-oil relay 0 is provided with two armatures 0 0 one 01 saidarmatures con trolling the extension of the line conductor 1 through theline relay (1 to the free pole of the grounded central battery I), andthe other armature a controlling a local circuit 6 from said battery I)through a special relay e. Said special relay is constructed to act verysluggishly; for example, its armature may be made very heavy so as tohave considerable inertia. The armature and back contact of said specialrelay 0 are arranged to control the extension of the line conductor 1between the line relay d and the battery, and a front contact isprovided for said relay 0, connected by a conductor 5 with the generatorG. In other words, the relay e is adapted when excited to disconnect thebattery b from the extension of line conductor 1 and connect saidextension instead to the generator G. The application of the currentfrom either source to the line conductor 1 of the telephone line is,however, dependent upon the closing of the contacts of thecutotl relay.

While for convenience of illustration two batteries marked 6 are shownin the drawing, it will be understood that the same may be a singlecentral battery connected as indicated.

The operation of the system is as follows: A subscriber who desires anexchange connection signals the central oihce by depositing a coin inthe coin-chute f of his toll box, and removing his telephone from hishook. The circuit of the central battery I) is thus completed by way ofthe armature and back contact of relay 6 through the magnet of the linerelay (1, and by the way of the back con- 'line signal 0 tact of relay 0and armature the line conductor 1 of the telephone line and thence toearth by way of the grounded branch 1, which has been closed at thecontacts f f and which includes the windings of the magnet g. The magnetg is not alfected by this battery current, but the line relay is excitedand draws up its armature, thus causing the display of the subscribeflsThe operator responds to the call as usual by inserting her answeringplug Z in the springjack of the calling line, and having obtained thenumber scriber wanted, completes the connection by inserting the otherplug of the pair into the springjack of the called line. If the desiredconnection, however, cannot be obtained, or if for any other reason thecoin should be refunded to the subscriber, the operator depresses herkey 76, whereby negative 110 volt current from the generator G isapplied to the line conductor 1 by way of the tip of the answering plug,whereby the magnet g of the toll device is energized and causes the cointo be released and thrown into the re turn chute. But in most cases theconnection will be made and the coin will be automatically depositedwhen the answering plug is pulled out of the springjack at the end ofthe conversation, after the usual disconnect signal has been given. Whenthe plug is first inserted in the jack, as in answering the call, thecut-oil relay 0 is excited by current in the circuit 3 applied by way ofthe sleeve or third contact of the plug, which registers with the testring a of the springjack. Both armatures c c of the cut-oil relay aredrawn up, and the connection of the line battery and line relay cut oil.The local circuit 6, including the special relay c, is closed by thecut-oil relay during the connection, so that the generator G is connected with the extension of the line conductor 1 leading from the backcontact anvil of armature c of the cut-off relay. The relay e being slowto act, however, the generator current is not applied to the extensionof the conductor 1 until the circuit of said conductor has first beenbroken by the separation of armature c of the cut-off relay 0 from itsback contact when, upon the insertion of the answering plug Z, a circuit9-3 is completed for said relay. When, however, at the end of theconversation the operator pulls out the plug, the cut-off relay isdeenergized and allows its armatures c c" to fall back. The armature cconnects the line conductor 1 with the extension leading to the armatureof the sluggishly-acting relay 6 before said armature has brokenconnection with the generator G, so that for a moment current from saidgenerator is applied to the line conductor 1 and serves to ac tuate thepolarized magnet g of the substation toll device, whereby the coin inthe ol said relay, to

of the sub chute is released and directed into the cash box. The depositof the coin in the cash box is thus automatically accomplished by merelytaking down the connection at the central o'llice.

In Fig. 2 I have illustrated a modified substation circuit in which. theconnection of the polarized magnet g in the branch -1 is controlled bythe contacts 01 a reversing switch is operated by the lever It 01' thetelephone hook. A plunger 7r is carried by said lever and is arranged toengage the springs of the reversing switch, which are connected with theterminals 01' the magnet g, and force said springs against outercontacts which form the terminals of conductor 4. \lhon the telephone isremoved from the hook, the switch lever is raised and the plunger iswithdrawn, pa rmitting the switch springs to separate from their outercontact anvils and engage inner anvils which also form terminals .l'orconductor 1, but which are reversely connected with respect to the outeranvils. When the telephone is on the hook, the magnet 9 is so connectedin the circuit of conductor 4 that current from generator G applied tothe line conductor 1 will impart to said magnet a polarity such that thearmature 9 will be tilted in a direction to deposit the coin in the cashbox. But when the telephone is oil the hook the connections of magnet 9are reversed, so that current from said generator G will cause anopposite movement of said armature, to throw the coin into the returnchannel.

hen the substation is equippeda'l'ter the plan 01' Fig. 2, then, the keyIt and generator G at the central oflice may be dispensed with, theactuation of the toll device from the central oflice being brought aboutautomatically by the withdrawal of the plug, whether the coin is to bereturned or deposited. 11' it is to be returned, the operator requeststh subscriber to keep his telephone oil' the hook, and then she pullsout the plug, and so brings about the application of current to themagnet in the proper direction. Ordinarily, however, she will wait untilboth subscribers have hung up their telephones, and then when thesupervisory signals indicate this condition she will pull out the plugs,whereby current will be applied to magnet g in proper direction to causethe deposit of the coin in the cash box.

The supervisory signals which indicate the condition ol' the substationswitch may be of the usual character. I have shown a standard plugcircuit, in which the central battery is connected in a bridge of thelink conductors 7 8 between the windings 01' a repeating coil. Asupervisory relay is included in one of the link conductors in the pathof current from said battery 1) controlled at the substation telephoneswitch, and said relay controls a shunt about the subsidiary lamp signalh which is included in the conductor 9 extending from the free pole ofthe battery to the sleeve contact of the answering plug.

It will be understood that my invention is capable of embodiment insystems or apparatus differing considerably from the form here-inspecifically described and shown, and I do not wish to be understood aslimiting myself to that particular embodiment, as modifications mayreadily be made to secure the same results by equivalent mechanical andelectrical means.

Having thus described my claim:

1. The combination with atelephone line extending from a substation to acentral office, of a toll device associated with the line, a springjackfor the line, a plug and plug circuit for making connection therewith, asource of current adapted to operate said toll device, and automaticswitching mechanism controlled by said coo crating plug and spring-jackand ope-rate in the separation thereof to momentarily connect saidsource invention, 1

k of current with the line; whereby the toll device is automaticallyoperated.

2. The combination with a telephone line extending from a substation toa central office, of a magnet connected with the line at the substation,a connection terminal for the line at the central office, a connectionswitch adapted for engagement with said terminal, a source of currentadapted to excite said magnet, a slow-acting relay e controlling theconnection of said source of current to the line, a quickeacting relay 0controlling the line circuit between the relay e and the substation, andcircuits for exciting both relays established during the closure of theconnection switch, whereby the substation magnet is momentarily excitedwhen the connection switch is opened.

The combination with a telephone line extending from a substation to acentral office, of a toll device at the substation having a polarizedmagnet and alternative mechanism operated thereby, a reversing switch atthe substation controlling the connection of said magnet with the line,a connection terminal for the line at the central office, a connectionswitch forengagement therewith, a source of current for exciting thesubstation magnet, and switching mechanism controlled in the operationof the connection switch adapted to apply said source ofcurren-t to theline, whereby said connection switch and reversing switch cooperate inthe control of the said alternative mechanism.

4. The combination with a telephone line extending from a substation toa central office, of a toll device at the substation having a polarizedmagnet and alternative mechanism operated thereby, a reversing switch atthe substation con-trolling the connection of said magnet with the line,a connect-ion terminal for the line at the central office, a connectionswitch for engagement therewith, a source of current for exciting thesubstation magnet, a signal at the central office controlled in theoperation of the substation reversi-ng switch to indicate the conditionof said reversing switch, and switching mechanism controlled in theoperation of the connection switch adapted to apply said source ofcurrent to the line, whereby either alternative action of the saidalternative mechanism at the substation may be efiectedautomaticallyfrom the central office.

"nation with a telephone line 5. The comb extending from a substation toa central ofiice, of a toll device at the substation having a polarizedactuating magnet, alternative mechanism operated thereby, and areversing switch at the substation controlling the connection of saidmagnet with the line, a signal at the central office, and means fordisplaying the same controlled in the movement of said switch, toindicate the condition thereof, a source of current at the centraloffice, and a switch for applying cur-rent to the line to excite themagnet of the toll device.

6. The combination with a telephone line extending from a substation toa central office, and a telephone switch controlling the circuit of theline, of a springj-ack for the line at the central office, a plug andplug circuit for making connection therewith, a toll device at thesubstation having a polarized actuating magnet, alternative mechanismoperated thereby, a reversing switch at the substation controll ng theconnection of said magnet with the line, means for operating said'switchactuated in the movement of .sai telephone switch, a signal at thecentral office adapted to indicate the position of said switch, a sourceof current at the central office, and an automatic switch actuated inthe withdrawal of said plug from its springjack, for applying current tothe line to excite the magnet of the toll device.

7. The combination with a telephone line and its switch terminal, of aswitchboard connector adapted for temporary engagement therewith,a tolldevice at the subscribers station, associated with said line, a 115source of current for actuating said toll device, and automaticswitching mechanism controlled by the cod crating connector and lineterminal to be c osed in the separation thereof, and connected to applysaid source 120 of current to said toll device when so closed.

'8. The combination with a tele hone line its springjack, of a plug anplug circuit for making connection therewith, a toll device associatedwith the line, .a source of 125 current, a switch controlled by theinserted plug and closed in the withdrawal of said plug, and a source ofcurrent under the control of said switch, to be applied thereby to saidtoll device; whereby the toll device is 130 unaffected by the insertionof the plug, but is automatically actuated upon the withdrawal thereof.

9. The combination with a subscribefis telephone line and its switchterminal, of the central oi'hce connector for engagement I therewith, atoll device at the subscribers station, associated with said. line, asource of current for actuating said toll device, automatic switchingmechanism controlled by the cooperating connector and line terminal tobe closed in the se aration thereof, for applying current to said tolldevice, and means arranged to determine the actuation of said tolldevice by said. automatic switching mechanism.

10. The combination with a subscribers telephone line and its sringjack, of the central oilice operators p ug and plug circuit, a tolldevice connected with the line adapted for alternative operation,automatic mechanism actuated by the withdrawal of the plug from thespringjack, adapted to de termine one operation of said toll device andmeans adapted to determine the alternative operation of said tolldevice.

11. The combination with a subscribefs telephone line and a toll deviceat the sub station thereof, of a central oilice springjack for the line,a plug and its plug-circuit for making connection therewith, a source ofcurrent for actuating said toll device, a switch 0, means, actuated upon.the insertion of said plug, to open said switch, and upon thewithdrawal of said plug, to close said switch, and electromagneticswitching mechanism actuated in the insertion of the plug adapted tobring the source of current under control of said first mentionedswitch; whereby the current is automatically applied to the line toactuate the subscribers toll device when the plug is withdrawn from thespringjack after a connection.

12. The combination with a telephone line and its switch terminal, of aswitch connector adapted for temporary engagement therewith, a tolldevice at the subscribers station, associated with said line, and meansoperated in the separation of said switch terminal and connector adaptedto eflect the operation of said toll device.

13. The combination with a telephone line and its switch terminal, of aswitch connector adapted for temporary engagement therewith, a tolldevice at the subscribefls station, associated with said line, a circuitfor said toll device, and automatic switch mechanism in said circuitoperated in the separation of said switch terminal and connector adaptedto eflect the operation of said toll device.

14. The combination with a telephone line and its switch terminal, of aswitch connector adapted for temporary engagement therewith, a tolldevice at the subscribers station, associated with said line, a circuitfor said toll device, and switch mechanism in said circuit momentarilyoperated in the separation of said switch terminal and connector adaptedto efiect the operation of said toll device.

15. The combination with a telephone line and its switch terminal, of aswitch connector adapted for temporary engagement therewith, a tolldevice at the subscribers station,

associated with said line, a circuit for said toll device, and meansoperated in the separation of said switch terminal and connector adaptedto affect said circuit to actuate said toll device.

16. The combination with a telephone line and its switch terminal, of aswitch connector adapted for temporary engagement therewith, a tolldevice at the subscribers station associated with said line, automaticmechanism operating in the separation of said switch terminal andconnector to effect the actuation of said toll device, and meansassociated with the switch connector to determine the operation of saidautomatic mech anism.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 29th day of May A.D., 1902.

SHERW'OOD J. LARNED.

\Vitnesses ALLARD SMITH, E. J. HOLDEN.

